Diet supplementation with vitamin E, vitamin C and beta-carotene cocktail enhances basal neutrophil antioxidant enzymes in athletes.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial
PubMed 11889577 · doi:10.1007/s00424-001-0770-0
What was done
Sportsmen received either placebo or an antioxidant cocktail for 90 days. The supplementation regimen consisted of vitamin E (500 mg/day) and beta-carotene (30 mg/day) for the full 90 days, with vitamin C (1 g/day) added for the final 15 days. Neutrophils were isolated from venous blood before and after the intervention to assess activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as concentrations of glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulfide (GSSG).
What was found
Plasma concentrations of vitamin E, beta-carotene, and vitamin C in the supplemented group were approximately 1.6, 10, and 1.2 times higher than in the placebo group, respectively. The antioxidant-supplemented group achieved a significantly higher neutrophil GSH:GSSG ratio (approximately 20% higher) than the placebo group. Antioxidant supplementation also enhanced neutrophil SOD and catalase enzyme activities; exact numerical enzyme levels, baseline values, and p-values were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
This study shows that multi-antioxidant supplementation can upregulate basal neutrophil antioxidant enzyme activity and improve intracellular glutathione redox balance in athletes.
Limits
The abstract does not state the sample size, participant age, training regimen, or blinding protocol. Specific numeric values, effect sizes, and exact statistical metrics for enzyme activity changes are omitted, and clinical or athletic performance endpoints were not measured.
Cited by
- partial A randomized controlled trial in 20 athletes found that supplementing with 250 mg of vitamin E, 15 mg of beta-carotene, and 1 g of vitamin C increased the activity of catalase, SOD, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase in neutrophils.